2002 Women's Soccer Match Recaps

November 25, vs. Spring Arbor (MI) University
MVNU finished fourth at the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament as the fifth-seeded Lady Cougars fell 4-1 to second-seeded Spring Arbor in the third-place match.  Catherine Hess scored the team's lone goal, while Bethany Seiffert registered an assist.  Goalkeepers Kristi Tuck and Meghan Schymanski combined to stop four shots.  MVNU finished with a school-record 14 wins for the second straight season.  For their efforts in the tournament, Seiffert, Kristen Votapek, and Cheryl Balogh were selected to the All-National Tournament Team.

November 23, vs. Malone College
Despite out-shooting top-seeded Malone 25-7, the fifth-seeded Lady Cougars fell 3-1 to the top-seeded Lady Pioneers in the semifinals of the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament.  Kristen Votapek scored MVNU's lone goal - her school-record 26th of the season - as she extended her scoring streak to nine straight matches.  Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kristi Tuck posted three saves.

November 22, vs. Trinity International (IL) University
MVNU, the fifth seed, opened up play at the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament with a 3-0 first-round win over fourth-seeded Trinity International.  Catherine Hess and Kristen Votapek each recorded a goal and an assist, while Kelly Evans scored the team's other goal.  Bethany Seiffert also added an assist, and goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped two shots in posting the team's sixth shutout of the season.  With the win, the Lady Cougars matched the school record with 14 victories for the season.

November 15, at Houghton (NY) College
The Lady Cougars fell in the semifinals of the NAIA Region IX Tournament as MVNU dropped a 5-2 decision to Houghton, ranked 15th in the latest NAIA national poll.  Bethany Seiffert and Kristen Votapek each scored a goal for the Lady Cougars, who snapped the Highlanders' shutout streak at 10 straight.  Lisa Hinman also registered an assist, while goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped four shots in goal.

November 9, at Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College
MVNU opened up postseason play with a 5-1 victory at Roberts Wesleyan in the American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX Tournament quarterfinals.  Kristen Votapek led the Lady Cougars by scoring three goals as she set a new single-season school record with 23 goals.  Jessi Gates added two goals, while Kelly Evans, Lisa Hinman, Catherine Hess, Sarah Rinehart, and Bethany Seiffert each registered an assist.  For Hess, it was her school-record 11th assist of the season.  Meanwhile, goalkeepers Kristi Tuck and Meghan Schymanski combined to stop five shots.

November 2, WALSH UNIVERSITY
The Lady Cougars wrapped up the regular season with a 4-2 American Mideast Conference South Division victory over Walsh.  Kristen Votapek tied the single-season school scoring record with two goals to give her 20 goals on the season.  She also added an assist, while Lisa Hinman and Kelly Evans each finished with one goal apiece.  Sarah Rinehart and Jessi Gates also registered one assist each.  Goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped three shots.

October 29, at Urbana University
MVNU battled Urbana to a 2-2 double-overtime tie in conference action as the Lady Cougars dropped out of contention for the American Mideast Conference South Division title.  Catherine Hess led the team with a goal and an assist in the cold and rainy match, while Kristen Votapek scored the team's other goal.  Jessi Gates also registered an assist, and goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped two shots.

October 26, at Tiffin University
The Lady Cougars handed American Mideast Conference South Division-leading Tiffin its first conference loss of the year as MVNU rallied for a 2-1 road victory to remain in the hunt for a share of the AMC South Division title.  Bethany Seiffert's goal in the 15th minute off an assist from Catherine Hess knotted the score at 1-1, and Kristen Votapek scored the game-winner in the 86th minute off an assist by Kelly Evans.  Goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped four shots.

October 22, OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY
MVNU snapped its three-match losing streak and stayed in the hunt for the American Mideast Conference South Division title with a 3-0 win over Ohio Dominican in conference play.  Kristen Votapek scored two goals, while Bethany Seiffert added the other goal.  Kelly Evans, Stephanie White, and Catherine Hess each registered an assist.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck stopped five shots in goal for the team's fifth shutout of the year.

October 19, at Grace (IN) College
The Lady Cougars lost their third straight match as MVNU fell 3-2 at Grace in non-conference action despite posting a 12-4 advantage in shots on goal.  Bethany Seiffert led the team with a goal and an assist, while Kristen Votapek scored the Lady Cougars' other goal.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck posted two saves in goal for MVNU.

October 16, at Malone College
MVNU dropped its second straight match as the Lady Cougars fell 3-0 at Malone, the defending conference champions, in an American Mideast Conference South Division match.  It marked the first time all season that MVNU had been shut out.  The Lady Cougars out-shot Malone 16-12, but the Lady Pioneers held an 8-6 edge in shots on goal.  MVNU goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped five shots.

October 12, INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
After a 10-day layoff, the Lady Cougars dropped a non-conference match to perennial power Indiana Wesleyan 4-1 as their four-match winning streak came to an end.  Catherine Hess scored off an assist by Kristen Votapek as MVNU avoided being shutout with less than five minutes remaining in the match.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck, the Lady Cougars' goalie, stopped nine shots.

October 2, CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY
MVNU won its fourth straight match and remained unbeaten in conference play with a 2-0 shutout win against Cedarville in American Mideast Conference South Division action.  Kristen Votapek and Lisa Hinman each scored a goal for the Lady Cougars, while Katrina Iles, Kelly Evans, and Catherine Hess were credited with an assist apiece.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck stopped three shots as the defense posted the team's fourth shutout of the year.

September 28, NYACK (NY) COLLEGE
The Lady Cougars built a 4-1 lead and held on for a 4-3 non-conference victory over Nyack.  Kristen Votapek led MVNU with two goals and an assist, while Catherine Hess added a goal and two assists.  Lisa Hinman also finished with a goal and an assist, and goalkeeper Kristi Tuck stopped three shots in posting the win.

September 25, KENYON COLLEGE
MVNU rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to post a 2-1 non-conference victory over Kenyon in a battle between the two Knox County schools.  Kristen Votapek scored the tying goal off an assist from Bethany Seiffert, and Kelly Evans notched the game-winner in the 70th minute off a pass from Catherine Hess.  Kristi Tuck, the Lady Cougars' goalie, stopped three shots to preserve the victory.

September 21, SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY
The Lady Cougars snapped their two-match losing streak with a 6-0 victory over Shawnee State in an American Mideast Conference South Division match.  Catherine Hess led MVNU with two goals and an assist, while Kristen Votapek added one goal and one assist.  Jessi Gates, Leanna Goss, and Sarah Rinehart each finished with one goal, and Bethany Seiffert registered two assists.  Krista Reynolds also tallied one assist.  Meanwhile, goalkeepers Kristi Tuck and Meghan Schymanski combined to post the team's third shutout of the season.

September 17, at Capital University
MVNU suffered its second straight loss as the Lady Cougars dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision at Capital.  Kristen Votapek gave MVNU an early lead when she scored her team-leading eighth goal off an assist from Cheryl Balogh in the first half, but the Lady Crusaders rallied for the victory with two second-half goals.  Kristi Tuck posted three saves in goal for the Lady Cougars.

September 14, HOUGHTON COLLEGE
The Lady Cougars suffered their first loss of the season after five straight victories as MVNU fell 5-1 in a non-conference match to Houghton, ranked #23 in the latest NAIA national poll.  Catherine Hess scored the team's only goal with just eight seconds remaining in the match to help the Lady Cougars avoid a shutout.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck and Meghan Schymanski combined to stop 10 shots in goal for MVNU.

September 10, at Notre Dame College
MVNU remained unbeaten on the season as the Lady Cougars downed Notre Dame 5-1 in a non-conference match.  Kristen Votapek set two new school records as she scored four goals and finished with nine total points as the result of adding an assist.  Cheryl Balogh also recorded a goal and an assist, while Lisa Hinman and Kelly Evans both registered an assist.  Kristi Tuck recorded five saves in goal as MVNU won its fifth straight match to open the season.

September 7, at Cornerstone (MI) University
The Lady Cougars extended their winning streak to four straight matches to open the season as MVNU blanked Cornerstone 1-0 in non-conference action.  Kristen Votapek scored the only goal of the match in the ninth minute off an assist from Catherine Hess.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck recorded her second straight shutout as she stopped five shots in goal.

September 4, OTTERBEIN COLLEGE
MVNU won its third straight match as the Lady Cougars blanked Otterbein 2-0 in non-conference action in the team's 2002 home opener.  Catherine Hess created the team's first goal in the 33rd minute when her shot from the left side was knocked into the back of the net by an Otterbein defender for an own goal.  Hess closed out the victory in the 70th minute when she bent a corner kick perfectly into the net for her third goal of the season.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck posted eight saves in goal as MVNU recorded its first shutout of the season.

August 31, vs. Bethel (IN) College
The Lady Cougars notched the first regular-season tournament title in the program's three-year history as MVNU downed Bethel 9-1 to win the Malone College Invitational.  The team also set new single-match school records for goals (9), assists (9), and total points (27).  Kristen Votapek scored a goal and tied the Lady Cougars' record with three assists, while  Leanna Goss recorded two goals and two assists.  Bethany Seiffert and Catherine Hess also scored two goals each, and Kelly Evans added one goal and one assist.  Stephanie White scored MVNU's other goal, while Lisa Hinman tallied two assists.  Holly Dyer was also credited with an assist.  Meanwhile, Kristi Tuck posted two saves in goal for the Lady Cougars.  Seiffert, Votapek, Hess, and Krista Reynolds were all selected to the All-Tournament Team.  (Click to see championship team photo.)

August 30, vs. Geneva (PA) College
MVNU successfully kicked off the 2002 season by rallying to defeat Geneva 3-2 in the first round of the Malone College Invitational.  Bethany Seiffert scored the Lady Cougars' first goal on a penalty kick for an early lead.  After the Golden Tornadoes took a 2-1 advantage, freshman Kristen Votapek notched her first collegiate goal to knot the score at 2-2 off an assist from Catherine Hess.  Then, Kelly Evans scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute off a cross from Seiffert.  Kristi Tuck posted three saves in goal as MVNU held on for the win.